Inside the Game: Penguins 4, Blue Jackets 2

Chris Bradford @BCTBradford

Sunday

Feb 26, 2012 at 12:01 AMFeb 26, 2012 at 11:00 PM

Rick Nash was appearing in his 654th career game on Sunday and, if rumors are true, it may have been his last. The Blue Jackets' franchise player - Columbus' leader in every offensive statistical category -- is the biggest name available at today's trade deadline.

If this was it, the first overall pick in the 2002 Entry Draft, had a game typical of his career in Columbus. Nash scored a goal, the 280th of his career, in yet another Blue Jackets loss. Nash scored his 21st of the season - on a shorthanded breakaway in the first period - to open the scoring.

"Rick Nash is part of our team," said Columbus coach Todd Richards. "Twenty-four hours from now might be a different story, but right now he's a Columbus Blue Jacket and I treat him as one of our players."

In his eight seasons in Columbus, the Blue Jackets have qualified just once for the playoffs and then getting swept in the first round by Detroit in 2009.

For his part, Nash sounded like a player who is ready to be dealt.

"It's been a great time living in Columbus," he said. "These fans deserve a winning game and a winning team. They've been the ones who've been most patient."

PLAY OF THE GAME

Brad Thiessen wasn't tested often early but he did make his best save of the day, a glove stop on a Brett Lebda shot with just over three minutes remaining in the first period. Thiessen, who was playing in place of veteran backup Brent Johnson, made 22 saves for the win. "I just tried to stay focused and enjoy the moment," said Thiessen. "They were going to come at some point. It was everything I expected and more, it was a lot of fun."

HIDDEN STAT

10: That's the number of power play goals Evgeni Malkin has scored this season after Sunday's marker late in the second period. Malkin now has 37 goals on the season, the second-most of his career (He tallied 47 in 2007-08). During his Hart Trophy-finalist seasons of 2007-08 and 2008-09, Malkin scored 16 and 17 power play goals, respectively.

NEWS & NOTES

** You won't find Chris Kunitz's name among the leaders for the Rocket Richard Trophy. In fact, Kunitz is just the Penguins' fourth-leading goal scorer this season. However, in terms of disallowed goals, the veteran RW is quickly establishing himself as the Mario Lemieux of the category. Kunitz was involved in having two more wiped out Sunday (kicking the puck in and an incidental goalie contact). Kunitz is believed to have been a part of five goals waived off so far. "He's not very good at soccer," said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, who added he didn't think Kunitz had garnered a bad reputation for crashing goalies.

** Lost amid all the Rick Nash trade talk, Columbus D Jack Johnson -- acquired last week from Los Angeles for F Jeff Carter -- quietly made his Blue Jackets debut. The No. 3 overall pick in 2005 and Sidney Crosby's old Minnesota high school teammate played 22:33, while recording three blocks, two hits and going minus-1. "I was impressed with Jack," said Richards, who coached the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to the Calder Cup finals in 2008. "It's what I expected. ... He was one of our bright spots, I thought."